Mobile Tagging for Moms

Holly Richmond

Wednesday, Jun 22, 2011 at 4:12 PM

One of the main misconceptions about mobile tagging is that it's just kids in Japan using this technology. Sure, scanning 2D barcodes with your smartphone caught on there, but other demographics have quickly latched onto it too. In fact, women 35 to 54 are the most active group in mobile socialization. And last year, "smartphone ownership and mobile Internet usage among moms increased 60 percent," according to a Millennial Media study. That got me thinking...what are some ways 2D barcodes like Microsoft Tag make life easier for moms? And what are businesses already doing to take advantage of this smartphone-savvy demographic?

Vacation planning. Summer's here and the kidlets are bored. From campsites to cruise lines, moms can plan their escape from normal life with a little help from Tag. Silversea Cruises, for example, is using Tag in its brochures to give readers a quick video peek into life on deck.

Breast cancer awareness. The charity Pink Kick-Starter Project is aiming to make the breast cancer diagnosis a little less scary. Scanning its Tag takes people to a video with more information about the project.

Grocery shopping. Tags in the grocery store, whether on product packaging or shelf-talkers like Herbal Essences used, can help moms (and dads) make more informed shopping decisions. Whole Foods is using Tag to help shoppers understand where their food comes from. And with mobile couponing, the old image of parents clipping coupons just got a 21st-century reboot.

Baby wipes and nursery furniture. On Monday, we talked about how shoppers who buy Johnson & Johnson baby wipes in the U.K. can get more info on the company's take-back recycling program by scanning a Tag on the baby wipe packaging. Nursery furniture manufacturer Young America is also using Tags in displays to connect shoppers with product options and color choices.

Gardening and crafting. Burpee and parent company Ball Horticultural Company are using Tags on seeds and plant labels to put gardening tips on your smartphone and help you remember things like how often to water specific plants and how much sunlight they need. And quilting and crafting companies are getting on board, linking crafters with how-to videos and demonstrations.

House-hunting and car-shopping. Tags can help moms making big purchases by giving them quick and easy access to the information they need. One Houston realtor is using Tag on yard signs to connect house-hunters with more photos and info than can fit on a flyer. And companies like Acura and Porsche are connecting car-shoppers with more info on model features, customer reviews, and nearby dealerships so they're ready to make the plunge.

How else could mobile tagging help moms? Let us know in the comments below or on Facebook or Twitter.